"Forever, in a Song" is, undoubtedly, one of the best songs I have ever written. It is inspired by some of the jazz songs from the 1930s and 40s and it is a slow to medium - paced swing song. I really enjoy singing this song and it gets a good reaction everywhere. Paul Rogers, who is a great jazz pianist, added the piano and the string and French horn arrangements. Definitely a song for candlelit dinners and romantic walks in the park.

George Mack sent me the lyric, about his memories of Christmas during childhood. "Winter winds, they whisper and snowflakes softly falling ..... " He asked me to set his words to music, so here is the result: a country-style song with Santa, Christmas presents, snow, Christmas Carols and hearing about the birth of Jesus, in a stable long ago.

My "Signature Tune"! I wrote this song one summer evening, while sitting at the keyboard with my guitar (LOL). It's all about being a songwriter; you try to find the right words and you want them to be true! In the end, in my case, it's just a simple melody, with just some simple words that rhyme. The song came easily enough, the guitar arrangement took some time.

I was playing with a bluegrass trio and the other guys, Mick and Alan, encouraged me to have a go at playing the mandolin. Alan lent me his. They explained that the tuning is G D A E - like a violin - and so most of the chords are like upside-down guitar chords. One morning, I went for the papers and this song came to me. "Took a walk to the general store, spent five dollars or maybe more...." I thought, "I've never written a song on the mandolin before", so I picked up the mandolin and started writing....

I was thinking of country music again. (I was sitting on the front porch, my favourite hound by my side. I'd just gotten out of jail and I was waiting to get my car back from the pound...). In country music, you get all kinds of songs, including homecoming songs and "somebody done somebody wrong songs". This song is not autobiographical, but we all use our experiences to write. (Note for guitarists: I started writing it in E Flat, then realised it would be better if I put my capo on the 3rd fret of the guitar - I then played it using the "C" chord shapes, which enabled me to get the guitar picking.) It's a song about going into the "big, bad world", finding out how hard it can be etc. and coming back ....

Click on the MP3 JUKEBOX for samples and free downloads of songs, including:

"It's Summer Time" +

"It Really Matters!!!"

(Songs Number 9 and 10)

(If you have Real Player, they should download in the same way as a You Tube video - just hover your mouse over the area. If you have difficulty downloading, please email me - tony@tonytunes.co.uk - and I will email it/them back to you.)

Recordings by Tony Cooke are now available from iTunes, CD Baby, Amazing Tunes and Amazon.

I'd like to say a big "THANK YOU" to my friend, Paul Rogers. Paul and I have often played live together and he has played keyboards/piano on a lot of my recordings. If I say "I'd like some jazzy, 'Nat King Cole - style' piano playing", he can do it, or I may say, "It's a 1970s' style pop song" or "It's a country song". Whatever I say, he always adds something extra special in the style of the song. Paul has played for Simon Townhend (Pete's brother) and supported bands like Duran Duran and The Pretenders. If you ever need a piano teacher, a wedding pianist, or a keyboard player for your band or function, I can recommend him. He has a website: www.paulrogerspiano.com , where you can find his contact details. (If anyone wants to know the story behind his email address, I can tell you that, too!)